Value of Private Land Conservation in Alberta (2021)
Mistakes Institute (prepared for the Alberta Land Trust Community)
One approach for land conservation is partnering with private land owners through land trusts and conservation easements. In Alberta, Land Trusts are contributing the conservation of land and protection of water resources across the province – but most significantly in the South Saskatchewan region.
|
Region
|
Land Privately Protected |
| South Saskatchewan | 313547 acres |
| North Saskatchewan | 70074 acres |
| Red Deer | 58735 acres |
| Upper Peace | 17332 acres |
| Lower Peace | 1977 acres |
| Upper Athabasca | 1894 acres |
| Lower Athabasca | 1173 acres |
A recent study by the Miistakis Institute for the community of land trusts in Alberta explored the value and impact of private land conservation in Alberta.
By evaluating the funding of private land conservation, the researchers determines the economic benefit of land conservation though these approaches:
“For every dollar invested by the provincial government in land conservation, 21⁄2 dollars are coming from other sources including municipalities, the federal government, and donations by landowners in return for charitable receipts. On average across the province, the Land Trust Grant Program is protecting land for less than $500 per acre, less than 1⁄4 its actual, average value— purchasing the land outright would cost Albertans four times as much.”
